The aim of our study was to analyze the level of expression of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) system in nasal polyps and control nasal mucosae. The study was performed in polyps from 15 patients and nasal mucosae from 11 subjects operated on the...

The authors comment on studies on the etiology of aspirin sensitive respiratory disease (ASRD), with focus on studies by L. Mastalerz and colleagues. Mastalerz' team analyzed prostaglandin E2(PGE2) production in aspirin-sensitive and aspirin-tolerant patients and challenged the notion that the...

Prostaglandins influence the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of ciliated nasal epithelial cells and a stimulatory effect has been described for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Until now, it is not known whether PGE2 has direct ciliostimulatory properties or acts through a second messenger. In this study...

Furosemide (frusemide) is mainly employed as a powerful diuretic that inhibits Na and K reabsorption in renal tubules. However other valuable pharmacological effects have been discovered that include a protective action from bronchospasm. The effects of furosemide on airways have been recognized...

The nasal and tonsillar mucosa are exposed to massive incursions of pathological microorganisms. One of the mechanisms known to prevent an invasion of pathogens is an endogenous synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, which include human ï¿½-defensins-1, 2, 3 (HBD-1, 2, 3). The aim of this study...

Interleukin (IL)-17A is a highly inflammatory cytokine and is known to be produced by Th17 cells. The importance of IL-17A expression in nasal epithelial cells is not well understood. The goal of this study is to explore the expression of IL-17A in nasal epithelial cells in vivo and in vitro....

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and complement component C1q are humoral factors of innate immunity, produced at sites of inflammation, and are essential in immune defense against several microbes such as Aspergillus, which is commonly implicated in nasal polyposis. Methods: PTX3 and C1q were...

Objectives: We examined the in vivo effects of agonists for prostaglandin E2 receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4) on mucus hypersecretion. We also examined the in vitro effects of EP agonists on airway epithelial cells. Methods: For the in vivo study, we induced hypertrophic and metaplastic...

Background: The vascular responsiveness of nasal mucosa has been determined frequently by using isolated mucosal tissues although it is not clear whether the response of the whole tissue truly reflects the response of the vasculature (especially veins) in mucosa. In this study, the in vivo...